What is a reman power head exactly?

[imabassguy]

Guys I’m in the market for a used Ranger with a Mercury Pro XS /

(2016) and they’re saying the power head is a reman with zero hours and I have to break it in.

 

Does that mean remanufactured?

 

Now here’s my next question, does the previous hours on the motor have any affect on the lower end of the motor like the gear case or something?

 

* it still has warranty until December of this year but I’m still worried.

Sorry I’m not mechanically inclined.

 

What do you guys think?

[Deephaven]

Knowing how many hours was on it before the reman would be good.  Fundamentally it is a rebuilt motor with new Pistons and rings.  

[Russ E]

Reman means remanufactured.

First thing I would ask is why they had to rebuild a 2016 motor.

If they just rebuilt the powerhead any wear and tear on the rest of the motor and gear train will still be there. 

I have a 2017 115 pro XS. That gets a lot of use, but is still in like new shape.

Mercury only has a 3 year warranty. I just extended my warranty for 2 more years.

If it is a 2016, there is no more warranty, unless someone bought the extended warranty.

 

[imabassguy]

1 hour ago, Deephaven said:

Knowing how many hours was on it before the reman would be good.  Fundamentally it is a rebuilt motor with new Pistons and rings.  

I Will double check tmw but I believe it was 440 hours on it prior.

1 hour ago, Russ E said:

Reman means remanufactured.

First thing I would ask is why they had to rebuild a 2016 motor.

If they just rebuilt the powerhead any wear and tear on the rest of the motor and gear train will still be there. 

I have a 2017 115 pro XS. That gets a lot of use, but is still in like new shape.

Mercury only has a 3 year warranty. I just extended my warranty for 2 more years.

If it is a 2016, there is no more warranty, unless someone bought the extended warranty.

 

So the sales guy told me something about an injector hang up, lost compression in one cylinder.

 

So I found out this specific sales guy is new so don’t know how accurate his info is but I can get more information tmw.

 

As for the warranty, the original 3 years was expired but it has the gold which lasts 2 more years so this year in December it expires.

 

I also found out by the serial # and a source that the power head and new DI on #6 cylinder in February.

 

there’s also an open source bulletin on (2017-005) Air compressor reed plate that I should have the dealer fix before the gold warranty expires.

[Way2slow]

Reman'd power head is an extremely exaggerated term in many cases.  It depends on who did it.  

If it's a certified Mercury remanufactured power head with the paper work from Mercury and they did the work, it's probably remanufactured.   It used to be when Mercury did them, they pulled the sleeves and installed new sleeves, pistons, bearings.  Any part there was any question about, it was replaced, so basically what you got was a new powerhead.  Now, if that's still their policy or not, I don't know.  

The thing you run into so many times, if they go into it and just repair what was broke, then they pawn it off as a remanufactured power head, which it the furthest thing from the truth. 

 

Now, if they are expecting you to break it in, what kind of warranty are they providing.  Normally, a reman'd power head will come with a 12 month warranty.  

 

If you are one of these that think they can park a boat in the fall with a little stabil in it, and go run it again in the spring with the same old gas in it, I would strongly suggest you stay away from a DFI.  Injectors don't like that crap at all.  

 

"Air Compressor reed plate"??.  Is this a two stroke or a four stroke motor.  I'm not much with Merc's but I though the Pro X was a two stroke and the Verado was the four stroke.  

 

[imabassguy]

15 minutes ago, Way2slow said:

Reman'd power head is an extremely exaggerated term in many cases.  It depends on who did it.  

If it's a certified Mercury remanufactured power head with the paper work from Mercury and they did the work, it's probably remanufactured.   It used to be when Mercury did them, they pulled the sleeves and installed new sleeves, pistons, bearings.  Any part there was any question about, it was replaced, so basically what you got was a new powerhead.  Now, if that's still their policy or not, I don't know.  

The thing you run into so many times, if they go into it and just repair what was broke, then they pawn it off as a remanufactured power head, which it the furthest thing from the truth. 

 

Now, if they are expecting you to break it in, what kind of warranty are they providing.  Normally, a reman'd power head will come with a 12 month warranty.  

 

If you are one of these that think they can park a boat in the fall with a little stabil in it, and go run it again in the spring with the same old gas in it, I would strongly suggest you stay away from a DFI.  Injectors don't like that crap at all.  

 

"Air Compressor reed plate"??.  Is this a two stroke or a four stroke motor.  I'm not much with Merc's but I though the Pro X was a two stroke and the Verado was the four stroke.  

 

Ya I’ve also read other threads of people saying even when you replace a power head it doesn’t fix the problem that caused it to go in the first place if you’re not addressing it directly.

 

But I am confident in the work because it’s a very reputable dealership that is a Mercury dealer as well and have only heard great things about this place.

 

As for warranty, the salesman said it was for only 6 months but the gold warranty lasts until December which would surpass the 6 months from either February when it was done or even if they honored it now.

 

I only fish for fun so I do tend to park my boat from about November to May but I always winterized my older 2003 Johnson (Suzuki) motor and every time I brought it out of storage it would start on the first key turn!

I’m hoping these newer motors are similar.

 

You asked if it’s a 2 or 4 stroke and the 2016 Mercury Optimax Pro XS that came with the Ranger Z520s I believe are all 2 strokes if I’m not mistaken.

 

 

Appreciate your input!

[Way2slow]

I'm just trying to figure out what the heck an air compressor reed plate is on a two stroke motor.  Like I said, not much on Merc's but never heard of such and animal on a two stroke motor.  Yes, they have a reed plate, but don't know of any kind of compressor on them.  Not saying there's not, that's just a new one on me.

 

I hope you don't let them jack the price up with the claims of a reman'd power head.  No matter what they claim, it's still a used 2016 motor and that's all it's worth.  Actually, I would make them discount it because you are the one that's has to go through the stress and aggravation of breaking it in and wondering if it's going to be a good motor or not. 

[Deephaven]

The new XS are 4 stroke, not sure what year this started.

 

I would ask for documentation on what "reman" they used.  If it came from Merc, they fixed the hanging injector and bench tested the rest I would be confident in it.  If it was reman'd by someone else, no work on the injectors I would run away.

[imabassguy]

6 hours ago, Way2slow said:

I'm just trying to figure out what the heck an air compressor reed plate is on a two stroke motor.  Like I said, not much on Merc's but never heard of such and animal on a two stroke motor.  Yes, they have a reed plate, but don't know of any kind of compressor on them.  Not saying there's not, that's just a new one on me.

 

I hope you don't let them jack the price up with the claims of a reman'd power head.  No matter what they claim, it's still a used 2016 motor and that's all it's worth.  Actually, I would make them discount it because you are the one that's has to go through the stress and aggravation of breaking it in and wondering if it's going to be a good motor or not. 

I have no idea but a Merc technician is the one that ran the serial and told me the info.

 

As far as jacking up the price, I don’t know if you’re aware but the boat industry is insane right now. Prices have never been higher and these dealerships are not budging on prices because if you don’t buy it someone else will.

 

I’ve been searching for a z520c for 2 months now and they have been selling within days at crazy prices.

 

3 hours ago, Deephaven said:

The new XS are 4 stroke, not sure what year this started.

 

I would ask for documentation on what "reman" they used.  If it came from Merc, they fixed the hanging injector and bench tested the rest I would be confident in it.  If it was reman'd by someone else, no work on the injectors I would run away.

I can definitely ask for the paper work but I truly trust this dealership because they’ve been around a very long time and have an incredible reputation so I do feel safe purchasing from them.

[Deephaven]

Feeling safe and protecting your investment are two VERY different things.

 

Personally if my motor needed a powerhead I would install it myself.  I don't trust ANY dealers in particular right now since they are swamped with Covid craziness and short help.

[Captain Phil]

Over the years I have bought a truck load of outboard motors.  Some were used.  Unless the work is warranted by Mercury itself, I would be very hesitant to spend money on a remanufactured outboard.   A warranty is only as good as the people behind it.  A lousy mechanic can poorly assemble an outboard motor with a new powerhead and give you trouble.  Why did the motor need remanufacturing?  Was it run to death or not maintained correctly?  If either of those two were the cause, what else is suspect?  The few used boats I did buy, I assumed the motor would need replacing and I paid accordingly.  You should do the same.    

[WRB]

The Merc computer has a history of run hours at RPM groups including total run hours. Was the dealer the original service center with maintenance records?  1 owner boat and garaged? Easy question to answer 2 or 4 stroke should be on the engine. 2016 it’s a 2 stroke!

Hope everything works out for you, nice boat.

Tom

 

[Born 2 fish]

The air compressor on the the 2 stroke pro XS motor are known for going out and causing the power head to blow. 

[imabassguy]

Thank you guys for all your help, I’ve decided to move on from this boat and managed to find another one with low hours, longer warranty and no major work done!

 

appreciate all you guys!